Barclays tightens office rules

British bank Barclays has increased return-to-office expectations for U.K. staff from two days to three days weekly, with senior employees required to come in four days.

Union demands reversal and support

Around thirty six thousand Barclays employees represented by trade union Unite signed an open letter against the mandate, set to roll out in October, demanding the bank reverse the decision.

Workers want financial compensation

Unite is calling for a one-time payment before March twenty twenty-seven, childcare vouchers, subsidized onsite meals, and travel allowances or discounted fares to offset increased office attendance costs.

The weekly cost burden

U.K. households spend an average of ninety six pounds forty pence, or one hundred twenty nine dollars, weekly on transport. Parents spend around forty seven pounds fifty seven pence, or sixty three pounds fifty, weekly on childcare.

Union seeks exemptions for vulnerable staff

Unite is demanding automatic exemptions for workers commuting forty minutes or more, one day maximum for caregivers or disabled staff, and flexibility when teams work in different locations.

“The proposed changes will create substantial challenges for many employees, including increased commuting time, higher travel costs, additional caring pressures, poorer work-life balance.”

Barclays defends the new policy

A Barclays spokesperson told Fortune the three-day requirement helps align with the bank's broader approach and allows senior leaders to support collaboration, decision-making and leadership visibility across the organization.

“We recognise the benefits of balancing flexibility for colleagues with the importance of working together in our physical locations.”